NRCS Water Resource Information Systems

Claudia C. Hoeft, P.E.National Hydraulic Engineer

National Program Manager – Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program

USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service

Washington, DC

claudia.hoeft@wdc.usda.gov

Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program

Soil Climate Analysis Network

Altavista Soil http://www.mo15.nrcs.usda.gov/features/gallery/altavista.html

Purpose: “…provides … water supply

forecasts… also provides public and scientific community with a data base…”

CFR Title 7, part 612

Customers Sovereign Nations Federal Departments & Agencies State and Local Agencies NGOs

Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting ProgramSnow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program

Our products and services help people use, conserve, improve, and sustain our

natural resources and environment.

NRCS SNOTEL Network

Data collection:Manual snow coursesSNOw TELemtry

(SNOTEL) sites

Snow Survey and Water Supply products available via the world-wide-web (www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov)

Soil Climate Analysis Network

150 sites in 39 states Soil-climate

monitoring Critical for drought

monitoring

Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN)Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN)

SCAN data and products developed using the data are via the world-wide-web (www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov)

SCAN Data Plot

New Products – Climate Maps

Maps of snowpack, precipitation, temperature, etc..

Oregon State University

http://www.ocs.orst.edu/prism/

Drought Monitor

Water supply forecasting becoming increasingly important:

as issues regarding “ownership” of water continue to grow

as populations increase in concentrated areas and water must be transported greater distances

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the necessity of using water wisely.

New tools will be needed to predict when and where drought will occur.

Helping People Help the Land…Helping People Help the Land…